Luton Karate Academy mark second anniversary in style

Sportsdesk

The Luton Karate Academy marked its second anniversary with a storming performance at the JSKA Championships in Aldershot last weekend.

Every fighter in the 23-strong squad won at least one medal each as the Stopsley-based club walked away with an impressive tally of 41 medals comprising of 18 golds, 10 silver and eight bronze along with five fourth places too.

Following the opening ceremony, the club’s youngest students, some of whom were competing for the first time, began to rack up the medals with Edvinas Kvalita (9), Noah Page (12), Robert Millar (8), Samy Hammoudi (12) and Thomas Brennan (8) all winning double gold in their kata and kumite divisions.

The gold rush continued with Amy Ely (6) bagging first place in her kata event and Katie Philpott (12) and Oliver Pepper (9) winning their kumite categories. The LKA youngsters then continued to impress the judges with Lucy Ely (8) winning two silvers, Hayyan Farooq (9) a silver in kata with both Ethan Simcox (11) and Ramy Hammoudi (8) taking the silver in their kumite divisions.

Megan Booker (9) bagged two bronzes and Simcox, Pepper and Philpott all added more bronzes in their kata categories.

Newcomers Scott Clark (12) and Stewart Smith picked up respectable fourth places and Clark also a bronze in his kumite event.

After lunch, it was time for the teenagers and instructors to step on to the floor and they didn’t disappoint.

Jordan McMahon-Smith (15) and Ryan Bonner (15) both bagged a gold and bronze each in their respective kumite and kata divisions, whilst first-timer Emma Crouch (13) picked up two silvers.

Yazmin Pelling (16) also took the silver in her kumite and fourth place in kata with Liam Bonner (13) being placed fourth in both his events.

Junior instructors, Feriel Siad and Sabrina Hammoudi (both 14) won the gold and silver respectively in their kata event and they then faced each other in the final round of their kumite category.

Neither held back and after a very close fight, Siad came out on top as another gold and silver were added to the LKA haul.

In the final event, assistant instructor, Jamie Pepper (17) won each of his three kumite bouts in style with spectacular head kicks.

Chief instructor Liam Mills said: “To see so many of our competitors on the winners’ podium and to also receive compliments from other instructors and coaches about their form and discipline is very rewarding.”

Co-founder Mark Slattery added: “What a great way to celebrate our second anniversary with such a phenomenal performance by our students and instructors.”

For more information about LKA, visit the website at www.lutonkarateacademy.co.uk.

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